Hundreds of protesters demonstrated against harming Jewish
graves and the derision shown toward the entire religious and
chareidi public around the country. Security guards hired by
Derech Eretz beat the demonstrators in the presence of a
contingent of policemen, who even arrested five of the
demonstrators.
The Association for the Prevent of Grave Desecration told
Yated Ne'eman that construction has been renewed at
the site and the destruction of hundreds of burial caves
continues despite a relatively inexpensive alternative plan
proposed by Rami Manor, an engineer the Transportation
Ministry commissioned to assess the situation.
Derech Eretz agreed to alter the route of the planned highway
in two places where graves were found, but opposed a demand
by chareidi representatives to reroute the highway in two
additional locations where burial caves were discovered.
The Transportation Ministry Spokesman issued a press release
saying that if burial caves or gravesites are found along the
planned route in the future, construction will cease
immediately and the decision will handed over to the special
ministerial committee appointed to address the issue.
Rabbi Michah Rothschild, chairman of the Association for the
Prevention of Grave Desecration, said, "In light of past
experience we have had our fill of unmet promises and, based
on the guidance of gedolei Yisroel shlita, we were
asked to seek an engineering solution for the entire cemetery
grounds and we cannot tolerate further desecration and harm
to the cemetery and the stubborn insistence of the Trans
Israel staff. The solutions are simple and feasible as
presented by the agreed-upon engineer, Mr. Rami Manor."
